Synopses & Reviews
FileMaker Pro 9: The Missing Manual is the clear, thorough and accessible guide to the latest version of this popular desktop database program. FileMaker Pro lets you do almost anything with the information you give it. You can print corporate reports, plan your retirement, or run a small country -- if you know what you're doing. This book helps non-technical folks like you get in, get your database built, and get the results you need. Pronto.
The new edition gives novices and experienced users the scoop on versions 8.5 and 9. It offers complete coverage of timesaving new features such as the Quick Start screen that lets you open or a create a database in a snap, the handy "save to" buttons for making Excel documents or PDFs, the multiple level Undo and Redo commands let you step backwards through your typing tasks, and much more. With FileMaker Pro 9: The Missing Manual, you can:
- Get your first database running in minutes and perform basic tasks right away.
- Catalog people, processes and things with streamlined data entry and sorting tools.
- Learn to use layout tools to organize the appearance of your database.
- Use your data to generate reports, correspondence and other documents with ease.
- Create, connect, and manage multiple tables and set up complex relationships that show you just the data you need.
- Crunch numbers, search text, or pin down dates and times with dozens of built-in formulas.
- Automate repetitive tasks with FileMaker Pro 9's easy-to-learn scripting language.
- Protect your database with passwords and set up privileges to determine what others can do once they gain entry.
- Outfit your database for the Web and import and export data to other formats.
Each chapter in the book contains "living examples" -- downloadable tutorials that help you learn how to build a database by actually doing it. You also get plenty of sound, objective advice that lets you know which features are really useful, and which ones you'll barely touch. To make the most of FileMaker Pro 9, you need the book that should have been in the box.
About the Author
Geoff Coffey has been helping people solve problems with FileMaker Pro for over 10 years. He is a partner at Six Fried Rice (http://sixfriedrice.com/), a FileMaker Pro consulting and training firm based in Phoenix, Arizona. Six Fried Rice brings the power and simplicity of FileMaker Pro to individuals, workgroups, enterprise, and the web through world-class training, expert advice, and custom development. He lives in downtown Phoenix with his wife of 14 years and his two daughters, Isabel (9) and Sophia (5). If you're a FileMaker fan, you can reach Geoff any time at [email protected].
Susan Prosser is a reformed journalist who's stopped trying to bring information to the people and now helps them manage the data they already have. Susan has developed FileMaker databases for 12 years, but returns to her roots by training and writing curriculum for other developers.
Table of Contents
Introduction; Why FileMaker Pro?; What's New in FileMaker Pro 9; The Very Basics; About This Book; Part I: Introduction to FileMaker Pro; Chapter 1: Your First Database; 1.1 A Very Quick Database Tour; 1.2 Creating a New Database; 1.3 Opening and Closing Database Files; 1.4 Saving Your Databases; 1.5 Adding Records to Your Database; 1.6 Navigating Your Database; 1.7 Same Database, Multiple Windows; Chapter 2: Organizing and Editing Records; 2.1 Views; 2.2 Advanced Find Mode; 2.3 Changing Multiple Records; 2.4 Sorting Records; 2.5 Editing What's in Your Fields; 2.6 Paragraph Formatting; 2.7 Beyond Text: Container Fields; 2.8 Checking Spelling; 2.9 Printing and Preview Mode; Chapter 3: Building a New Database; 3.1 Tables and Fields; 3.2 Defining Fields; 3.3 Advanced Field Options; 3.4 Bringing It All Together; Part II: Layout Basics; Chapter 4: Layout Basics; 4.1 What Is a Layout?; 4.2 Switching Between Layouts; 4.3 What Makes a Layout; 4.4 Layout Mode; Chapter 5: Creating Layouts; 5.1 The Lowdown on Layouts; 5.2 Creating a Layout from Scratch; 5.3 Creating Layouts for Reports; Chapter 6: Advanced Layouts and Reports; 6.1 Value Lists; 6.2 Advanced Field Controls; 6.3 Field Behavior; 6.4 Conditional Formatting; 6.5 Print-related Layout Options; 6.6 Format the Number/Date/Time/Graphic; 6.7 Adding Buttons; 6.8 Tab Order; 6.9 Web Viewer Controls; 6.10 Tab Controls; 6.11 Reports and Summary Fields; Part III: Multiple Tables and Relationships; Chapter 7: Multiple Tables and Relationships; 7.1 Relational Databases Explained; 7.2 Modeling Your Database; 7.3 Creating a Relational Database; 7.4 Relational Databases; Chapter 8: Advanced Relationship Techniques; 8.1 Creating Related Records; 8.2 Table Occurrences; 8.3 Managing Data with Data Tunneling; 8.4 Building a Data Tunneling Interface; 8.5 Connecting Databases; 8.6 Lookups; 8.7 Advanced Relationships; Part IV: Introduction to Calculations; Chapter 9: Introduction to Calculations; 9.1 Understanding Calculations; 9.2 The Structure of a Calculation; 9.3 Creating a Calculation Field; 9.4 Auto-Enter Calculations; 9.5 Validate Data Entry with a Calculation; 9.6 Replacing Data Using a Calculation; 9.7 Comments; Chapter 10: Calculations and Data Types; 10.1 Number Crunching Calculations; 10.2 Going Beyond Basic Calculations; 10.3 Text Parsing Calculations; 10.4 Date and Time Calculations; 10.5 Aggregate Calculations; 10.6 Containers in Calculations; Chapter 11: Advanced Calculations; 11.1 Conditional Formatting; 11.2 Using the Self Function; 11.3 Stored, Unstored, and Global Fields; 11.4 Logical Functions; 11.5 The Let Function and Variables; Chapter 12: Extending Calculations; 12.1 Custom Functions; 12.2 Plug-ins; Part V: Scripting; Chapter 13: Scripting Basics; 13.1 Your First Script; 13.2 The Importance of the Layout; 13.3 Running Scripts; 13.4 Understanding ScriptMaker's Windows; 13.5 Organizing Your Scripts; 13.6 Branching and Looping in Scripts; Chapter 14: Script Steps; 14.1 Go to Layout; 14.2 Scripting for Fields; 14.3 Working with Records; 14.4 Finding Records; 14.5 Sorting Records; 14.6 Working with Windows; 14.7 Working with Files; 14.8 Printing; 14.9 Other Script Steps; Chapter 15: Advanced Scripting; 15.1 Commenting Scripts; 15.2 Asking and Telling the User; 15.3 Organizing Complex Scripts; 15.4 Handling Errors; 15.5 Putting a Complex Script Together; Part VI: Security and Integration; Chapter 16: Security; 16.1 How Security Works; 16.2 Privilege Sets; 16.3 Managing Accounts; 16.4 Extended Privileges; 16.5 Scripts and Security; Chapter 17: Sharing Data with Other Systems; 17.1 Sharing Your Data with Others; 17.2 External SQL Sources; 17.3 Exporting Data; 17.4 Importing Data; 17.5 Import Data Sources; 17.6 Importing and Exporting in a Script; Chapter 18: Sharing Your Database; 18.1 FileMaker Network Sharing; 18.2 Sharing over the Internet; 18.3 FileMaker Server; 18.4 Server Hardware; Chapter 19: Developer Utilities; 19.1 Copying and Pasting Database Structure; 19.2 Script Debugger; 19.3 The Data Viewer; 19.4 Disable Script Steps; 19.5 The Database Design Report; 19.6 Tooltips; 19.7 Custom Menus; 19.8 Developer Utilities; 19.9 File Maintenance; Part VII: Appendixes; Appendix A: Getting Help; A.1 Getting Help from FileMaker Itself; A.2 Getting Help from FileMaker, Inc.; A.3 Getting Help from the Community; Appendix B: Filemaker Error Codes; Colophon;